Classic Camera Revival

So, back in December 2025, Alex handed out some expired film to James and Bill, and today we're back revisiting the topic of expired film. And while Bill & James haven't had the chance to shoot their rolls, Alex did shoot his odd duck of a roll. Everything from colour shifts to fog and bad chemical packs, it's all about shooting and using expired film. From developing without any data to best practices, techniques and chemistry needed.

Today, Alex is joined by David Smith, a Biology professor and researcher at Western University in London, Ontario. While we mostly talk about cameras on the show, David has something unique: microscopes. As many history nerds know, many camera companies we know and love today began producing optics, including microscopes. Dr Smith came by this affinity for collecting honestly, as his mom is an antique dealer. David talks about his microscopes, how he started the collection, and how it led to film photography and a fantastic collection of Leica rangefinders, lenses, and medium-format cameras. You can find Dr Smith online. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/arrogantgenome/?hl=en

Last year, we were so caught up in our own tenth anniversary that we completely forgot about the fifth anniversary of the K-Mount! While the K-Mount is most often associated with Asahi/Pentax, it was a joint invention by Asahi and Zeiss Ikon. Like the M42 mount, the K-Mount was intended to be a universal, open-source lens mount. But the partnership never materialised, and the two companies parted ways, with Pentax retaining the mount and one Zeiss lens design. Since its introduction, the K-Mount has changed slightly as technology advanced. To celebrate, the team is here to discuss the cameras and lenses for this iconic mount, from K to K-AF4!

Last year, we chatted with James McFarlane about his journey and pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. What we did not count on was finding a second film photographer who took his own film on his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Today, Tyler Cahoon of the Retro Film Project joins Alex and John to talk about his Camino journey, the reasons behind his pilgrimage, the people, the photos, the cameras, and the film that came along. You can find more from Tyler online... YouTube: www.youtube.com/@retrofilmproject Watch Tyler's Camino Journey Here: youtu.be/uOl7Dkm9VEE Instagram: www.instagram.com/retrofilmproject

We're back for Season 12! While we wanted to include a Mystery Camera Challenge as part of our 10th anniversary season, it just didn't work out. So James, Alex and Bill head into Toronto to kick off the new season with another Mystery Camera Challenge, our sixth! This time around, we each drew a name and used that person's camera, and then grabbed a roll of film from the other person! The cameras in this episode include Alex's Nikon F65 with a 24mm f/2.8 lens, which James used, and a roll of Ilford HP5+. From Bill came the Nikon F90x with the 35-70mm f/2.8D, which Alex shot on a roll of Bergger Pancro 400. And from James came the Nikon F6, which Bill used and loaded with a roll of Ultrafine Extreme 400. Also of note: this episode was recorded live on location at Union Station in Toronto!

Well, we all made it through another season, and not much worse for wear. The team had a relaxing time sitting around the table and discussing everything they did this year, the gear they acquired, the films they tried, and the developers they worked with. Plus a brief discussion of social media, AI, and more. Just some middle-aged guys chatting about photography. It's a little bit of everything to wrap up the year.

The one thing that will always keep a photographer humble is that we all make mistakes, some big, some small, some fixable. So join the gang as they talk about foul gear, forgotten steps, chemical mix-ups, and general issues that keep us humble. Yes, mistakes were made.

It's been a while since we've done one of these shows. It was back with the Nikon FA, and in that case, we just passed the camera around the table. But today we have something special, the Pentax MZ-S, the last professional camera from Pentax/Asahi with a rich history. The camera was provided by John Roberts (who is back on the show today). It was used by Alex, James, and Bill, along with the three limited-edition lenses that were released with the camera.

It's still 2025, and it's still Leica's 100th birthday. And as part of the global celebration, they recently released their first Leica-branded film, Monopan 50. And the Internet was abuzz with speculation about what the film was under the cover. Well, all signs point to Adox HR-50, which makes sense. HR-50 is sharp, fine-grained, and high-resolution. That got us thinking: why not discuss other ASA-50 films? This includes Ilford Pan F+, Adox HR-50, Ferrania ORTO, Velvia 50, and even a mention of Efke 50! We also discuss overexposure and pulling film in development, mainly because there are more 100-speed films out there these days that you can shoot at ASA 50!

Our co-host Chrissie did something to push themselves out of their comfort zone and decided to take a solo trip to Iceland. Armed with a Samsung phone, Sony A7 and a Polaroid I-2 in an effort to rekindle a passion for photography. Join Chrissie and Alex as they discuss the trip, including the reasons, gear, and of course, the photos.

Here in North America, we're fortunate to have several camera and photography stores dedicated to keeping film shooters like us happy. However, today's guest recognised a need for such a store in the city of Porto, Portugal. Fourteen years ago, Pedro started a small shop dedicated to selling cameras, watches and other antique technologies. Calling it Máquinas de Outros Tempos or Machines Out of Another Time. Today, they sell cameras and film the hungry population of the city, and business is good. In addition to sales, they also handle film developing and scanning. Every camera sold is refurbished by an in-house technician. But that isn't all, there's also Cinemot. Cinemot started as selling respooled Kodak Vision3 motion picture film, complete with a custom-built remjet stripping machine, but today sells exclusive emulsions manufactured in the EU for Cinemot. More recently, they started reusing disposable cameras, loading up Cinemot films, putting their film into these cameras, branding them and giving them a second life away from the e-waste bin. You can visit Máquinas de Outros Tempos in person at: Rua dos Mártires da Liberdade 154, 4050-359 Porto, Portugal Máquinas de Outros Tempos: https://www.maquinasdeoutrostempos.pt/onlinestore/ Máquinas de Outros Tempos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maquinasdeoutrostempos/ Cinemot: https://cinemotfilm.com/ Cinemot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cinemotfilm/

Officially, fall has arrived here in Southern Ontario. Although with the warm weather we've been having recently, it's hard to tell other than the fact that the days are getting shorter. And with the change of season, the team sits down to talk about everything related to fall photography, from capturing the bright colourful leaves on your favourite film stocks to showing off the late fall gloom in stark black and white.

We're at the end of summer, and, like you, we don't know how it went by so quickly. Also, the constant heat warnings here in Southern Ontario limited when and how long we could get out and practice photography. However, James, Alex, and Bill all had the opportunity to get out or at least intended to practice photography. And today, they sit down to discuss mostly film stocks, such as Phoenix II and Kentmere 200, which were used by the team's cameras. But also when things go sideways and the best intentions to get out and shoot end up with leaving the camera (accidentally) behind.

Photography is a journey, and sometimes that journey intersects with another, and that's what today's episode is all about. For those who don't know, the Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James is a network of pilgrim ways all leading to the Shrine of the Apostle James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. And a couple of months ago, it was completed by a friend of the podcast, James McFarlane. James and Alex sit down to talk about the journey, the photography, and how it changed him. It's something a little different for the podcast, but something that needed to be done. You can see more of James' work online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cigarandbar/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cigarandbar Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theworldttl

When it comes to photography, there's always going to be the popular items. The ones that everyone wants to have and use, we're talking the Leica M3, Canon AE-1, fast prime lenses, trending film stocks like Portra, and all the normal developers out there. But what about those things that are often overlooked, underrated and underappreciated? Well, that's exactly what James, Bill and Alex sit down to talk about in today's episode. From the Leica M5 to the Olympus OM series, 28mm f/3.5 lenses, slow films, and different developers, nothing is off the table.

This episode is another live show from the streets of Toronto during our 10th Anniversary Photo Walk & Brewery Tour. The tour took the gang from Sugar Beach and the Great Lake Brew Pub on Lower Jarvis, through Old Town Toronto and into the Distillery District for Old Flame Brewing Co., and then into Riverside for Eastbound Brewing. There were other breweries planned, but due to the weather, we stopped at Eastbound. Despite the weather (which was not pleasant), about twenty people attended the event, and everyone enjoyed the shorter but safer walk. Alex took the time to record short interviews with twelve attendees and asked them a series of questions. What Camera(s) do you have with you, what is your favourite subject matter, what is your favourite film stock and what in your mind makes for a good photo? You can view all of Alex's photos on Flickr.

It's hard to believe that CCR has been on the air for ten years and produced more than 200 episodes, so Alex sits down and thinks back on how CCR got started and some of the favourite episodes from the past. Including the mysterious Episode 0 and the far better Episode 1, which was recorded. Some good interviews, some of the more nerdy episodes, and the ones that certainly got CCR a tonne of attention. Plus a little bit of encouragement for those thinking of starting up a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. CCR is ten years old this year, and to celebrate, we're hosting a Photowalk & Brewery Tour on 12 July starting at 11 am from the Great Lakes Brewpub at 11 Lower Jarvis in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more details on the event signup page on: Photowalk.me!

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Leitz Camera, or as we know it today, Leica. The Leitz Camera Co. is far older than the cameras they produce. In today's episode, Bill leads a panel of photographers, including Alex (Smith), John Roberts, and David, who all have one thing in common: their love of Leicas, from the Barnack rangefinders to the iconic M-Series of rangefinders and even the controversial SLR line of Leicaflexes! But no matter which side of the fence you land on, there is something special about Leica cameras and their lenses that makes them not only expensive but worth every penny. Also Alex (our Alex) comes in with a presentation on the Leica Freedom Train, an effort by Ernst Leitz II and Elsie Kuehn-Leitz, to move hundreds of Jewish employees and their families outside of Germany from 1935-1939 and the company's efforts to protect those enslaved under the Nazis and employed by Leitz during the war. You can read more in the Legion Magazine or the Accidental Talmudist.   CCR is ten years old this year, and to celebrate, we're hosting a Photowalk & Brewery Tour on 12 July starting at 11 am from the Great Lakes Brewpub at 11 Lower Jarvis in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more details on the event signup page on Photowalk.me!

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that certainly includes the personalities of the film photographers! Join Alex as he sits down with Nick LoPresti, if you haven't seen his work he certainly has a certain flare for humour, big jokes a bit of self-deprecation and a flare for not taking himself seriously. And you know, it's a refreshing take on a hobby that often takes itself way too seriously. I mean, we here at CCR can often lean into the serious side of things, but we also don't take ourselves too seriously. To find more of Nick's Work, check him out in the following places online! Web: www.madebylopro.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/loprestiproductions/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicklopro CCR is ten years old this year, and to celebrate, we're hosting a Photowalk in Brewery Tour on 12 July starting at 11 am from the Great Lakes Brewpub at 11 Lower Jarvis in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more details on the event signup page on www.photowalk.me!

It's hard to believe that 2025 marks several significant anniversaries. First off, it's the 200th anniversary of photography as a whole, CCR is celebrating 10 years on the air, and we've reached episode 200! So the gang digs into a few topics on this show! If you remember, back in Episode 100, we talked about the oldest cameras in our collections, so in this episode, we talk about the newest cameras in our toolkits. We will also talk about all the latest films that have emerged in the 21st century and the developers! CCR is ten years old this year, and to celebrate, we're hosting a Photowalk in Brewery Tour on 12 July starting at 11 am from the Great Lakes Brewpub at 11 Lower Jarvis in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more details on the event signup page on Photowalk.me!